Malariais one of the world’s biggest killers, claiming the lives of up to one million people a year. Yet experts fear many British tourists could be relying on homeopathic remedies to stop them catching the disease when they head off to exotic hot spots.

Tropical disease specialists are worried that the popularity of alternative anti-malaria treatments could increase after it emerged that singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole caught the potentially deadly disease during a recent six-day break in Tanzania, despite taking prescription medicines to ward off infection.

Celebrity endorsement of homeopathic products for malaria could also increase the risk of the disease, it is feared.

Actress Julia Sawalha revealed earlier this year that she shuns licensed medications in favour of a “natural” alternative called nosodes. These are homeopathic tablets reportedly made from a mixture of African swamp water, rotting plants, mosquito eggs and larvae.

In an interview, the Absolutely Fabulous star said: “I don’t get inoculations or take anti-malaria tablets when I go abroad. I take ‘nosodes’ and I’m the only one who never comes down with anything.”

However Professor Larry Goodyer, malaria expert and head of the School of Pharmacy at De Montfort University in Leicester, says: “There is absolutely no scientific evidence that nosodes work. I would never recommend anyone take them and I suspect a lot of homeopaths themselves wouldn’t rely on them.”

The charity Sense About Science has investigated homeopathic potions for malaria and found that as well as nosodes, other remedies on offer include salt tablets and solutions made from tree bark.

The UK has some of the highest “imported” malaria cases in the developed world. Every year between 1,500 and 2,000 travellers return carrying the infection and around 10 people a year die from it.

It’s estimated that around two thirds are British residents who originally hail from parts of the world where malaria is endemic. Many mistakenly believe they are immune simply because they frequently return home to visit family and friends. The remaining 500 to 700 cases each year are holidaymakers bitten during exotic trips.

The majority catch the most deadly form of the disease called plasmodium falciparum which in the very worst cases can kill within 24 hours.

Cheap air travel has led to a rise in the number of British tourists heading for malaria hot spots, often on last-minute deals which leave little or no time for proper precautions before heading off.

Doctors also fear some tourists do not associate certain destinations with the deadly mosquito bug. An example is The Gambia in West Africa, where package holidays are common but so is malaria. Most people show symptoms within a few weeks of a trip but the disease has been known to develop a year or more after a traveller has returned. Although no medicine is 100 per cent effective, specialists insist that taking a drug that has been tested and licensed is a much safer option.

However, it is crucial holidaymakers begin taking their medication in time and carry on when they return, in some cases for up to a month.

The effectiveness of the drugs can also be undermined by sickness or diarrhoea. “If somebody suffers vomiting shortly after taking their anti-malarial pills it could mean the drugs have not got into their system,” says Professor Goodyer.

I n that case, read the information leaflet carefully because it may say you need to repeat the dose to get the right protection. It’s also vital travellers remember to take their drugs every day.

“There have been cases where people insist they’ve been taking the tablets but when doctors take a blood sample it proves they haven’t,” adds Professor Goodyer.

Making sure you are given the right drug for the right part of the world is also important. Chloroquine for example is one of the oldest malaria pills and while it can be effective in parts of India, it is not recommended for travellers bound for sub-Saharan Africa.

If, even after sticking to the instructions carefully, you feel ill when you return home, see a doctor as soon as possible. Tell them you visited a malaria-ridden region, even if it has been months since you got back.